After months of speculation, Network 10 has pulled back the curtain on its next big primetime play. Starting Monday 30 June, 10 News+ will take over the 6pm slot once held by The Project’s early edition.
But this isn’t just a shuffle of the schedule, it’s a clear editorial pivot. Gone is the panel banter; in its place, a new premium news and current affairs format promising deep dives, big investigations, and a tone anchored in substance.
At the helm is executive producer Daniel Sutton, who’s no stranger to the evolving appetite of Australian news audiences. As he tells Mediaweek, 10 News+ aims to meet viewers where they are: craving more than headlines, and ready for stories that unpack not just the “what,” but the “why.”
In this exclusive interview, Sutton breaks down what makes 10 News+ different, how the show plans to bridge traditional broadcast with digital sensibilities—and why this is about more than just filling a timeslot.
Mediaweek: The approach is extended context, exclusive investigations and in-depth analysis of the day’s biggest stories – that sounds a lot like the similar to the (Paramount-owned) CBS Evening News Plus. Has that program been an inspiration for the local show and, if so, what have you taken from it and adapted for the local market?
Sutton: What you’ll see on 10 News+ is original reporting – stories you won’t find anywhere else, plus analysis, longer-form reporting, and some cracking interviews with interesting newsmakers.
I can certainly see some similarities with what our colleagues at CBS offer in their “Plus” show – particularly having two anchors who are working journos. Denham and Amelia are seasoned and respected field reporters. Yes, they’re on the news desk, but I can tell you their notebooks and phones are getting a workout! They’re already busy chasing and writing stories for our first week on air.
Mediaweek: Is there a danger that this show is going to cater exclusively for news junkies with it in direct competition against the other commercial networks flagship news shows?
Sutton: 10 News+ will offer an alternative at 6pm. Elsewhere, you’ll still find the car crashes, house fires and state politics that 10 has already covered in our flagship state-based bulletins at 5pm.
Instead, we’ll go in depth on issues that affect Aussies, and get into the “why”, not just the who, what and when. And when we break a big story, we’ll have the time to explain it and dig into the detail.
We absolutely hope people who are “news curious” will give us a try. But I don’t think you need to be a news “junkie” to want to know the reasons your hip pocket is hurting, why you can’t find a house, or whether the world is really as perilous as it sometimes feels. It helps to be armed with the facts.
Mediaweek: Network 10 famously tried George Negus Tonight, followed by a 6:30pm news program in that same slot. What makes this effort different… was it simply a case of 10 being a bit too far ahead of the times with that strategy?
Sutton: Can you believe that was 14 years ago? A lot has changed in that time, particularly the ambiguity between ‘news’ and ‘views’. It’s hard to escape opinion now. It’s screaming at you via social media, and we’re all so reliant on our phones, it’s coming at you 24/7.
With that in mind, I feel there’s never been a better time to launch a show that focuses on facts.
Our news service at Network 10 has always been straight down the line. We don’t take sides. We don’t tell you what to think. But I hope our viewers are open to considering different perspectives. We certainly will be, and asking the awkward questions that go with that.
Mediaweek: On that note, how has news changed at Network 10 you started 19 years ago?
Sutton: Tech has changed everything in TV. Choppers are now drones, satellite trucks are now SIM cards, and information is instant.
But the bigger change is misinformation. When a story breaks, every person on the street now has all the ingredients to make a “news story”, a phone with a camera, a social media platform and a voice.
But we’ve all seen how videos on your local Facebook page, or from a TikTokker, can be wildly out of context and lack basic fact-checking. It can spark misunderstanding, confusion and anger.
It’s a journo’s job to find that context, to cross-check and be sure. That’s the difference a respected news organisation can offer. And it’s what our team of reporters at 10 strive for.
Mediaweek: Have you felt any pressure taking on this new role?
Sutton: I’ve been a deadline-driven journo for 25 years, so I’ve become accustomed to pressure. One big challenge was finding the right mix for our team at 10 News+, and I think – after a lot of work – we’ve landed in a great spot.
Yes, we’ve brought some outstanding journalists in the door in recent weeks. But we also have an incredible bank of talented reporters at 10 already. Together they make a formidable force – one of Australia’s best. They’re hungry and they have heart.
Mediaweek: 25 years, that’s a long time. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from working all these years in media?
Sutton: Trust. Our whole profession rides on it.
There’s the trust our viewers place in us to report ethically and honestly. There’s our constant quest to find sources we can trust. That means applying the blow torch sometimes.
Crucially, I’ve learnt to have great respect for the everyday Australians who trust us to tell their stories. People who bare their souls, sometimes at their most challenging moments. That is trust that cannot be betrayed.
Mediaweek: The show will open up a whole new avenue for brands and advertisers – who are you hoping to attract?
Sutton: I’m a journo first and foremost, so I’ll leave the advertising to our outstanding Paramount sales team.
But I will say that – as a community – I feel we should support brands who choose news programs as a place to advertise. Their investment helps ensure the survival of quality journalism in this country. I honestly believe that’s a noble cause.
More journos means more eyes on the pollies and the powerful. And that can only be a good thing.
10 News+ begins Monday 30 June on 10 and 10 Play.